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The Questions:
In Mark 1:16-20, Jesus is walking along the Sea of Galilee. He sees Peter and his brother Andrew casting a net into the water. What did it look like? The picture to the left is a common picture found online. Was this accurate? What was the ground like? How far away were Peter and Andrew? Would they really be casting a net this close to shore or was this James and John in this picture mending their nets? Were there lots of people around or were they spread out more? How does this contribute to the sounds you might hear. Remember, you're making a movie and movies need sound effects. What smells might be involved? Bottom line: get into the physical space of the story.
Think about these things:
  • Wardrobe - what are people wearing?
  • Props - what props are needed (boats, paddles, nets, food, fish, etc.)
  • Set - what should the location look like? Where does your story take place? What will be in the background and will NOT be in the background?
  • Cast - Who will you cast for the different characters? Skin tone, facial features, height, weight, etc. (Contrary to American cinematic history, Jesus most likely did not look like a skinny, caucasian surfer from California!) Of course, if you want to go all out and make an actual video on your own, you may be limited in who you cast for these roles. That's okay, but the point is to try to visualize what people actually looked like based on clues from the Bible. (Jesus was a carpenter, which for that location and time, meant He dealt with more than wood. He would have handled stone as a building material. He was probably a strong construction worker. He was no wimp! He had to carry a cross up a steep, rocky grade after being beaten near to death! That takes physical stamina.)
  • Time & Space - How long and how far would it have been to get from one place to another in the story? The Bible doesn't spell that out, since most of the original audience understood the geography and locations referenced in the stories.
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The Answers:
Understanding the culture and daily life of the Bible helps us grasp the meaning of its stories. The answers to the questions above are available, so don't panic. When you first start out with this process, there is no need to get too bogged down in a research project or anything. Just dive in! However, as you get more comfortable with this idea, you can dig a little deeper and there are resources to help. Here are a few suggestions to get started. There are much more in-depth resources out there.